Saturday 30 November 2013

Wonderkid #4 - David Alaba

Growing into one of the best full-backs in the world, 21-year-old Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba has quickly burst onto the scene as an established but quick full-back who knows how to defend and can score with unpredictable movement and attacking intelligence.


Landmark achievement: David Alaba is one of the world's best full-backs, at age 21.

He burst onto the scene for both club and country in 2009 where he came up from the Bayern youth system to play for the first-team, and also broke Austria's record to become their youngest ever player to play for the senior team in the same year. 

Representing at international level: Alaba is a key player for both Austria and Bayern.
Talisman: Alaba has scored 6 goals in 30 senior appearances for his country.

He has impressed not only his club fans and fellow team-mates with his consistent performances at such a young age, but also other clubs in Europe are monitoring his progress just in-case he wants to leave Bayern or he suddenly becomes available. Among those teams are Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Facts and Figures:

FACT: Earlier this year in April, Alaba scored the seventh-fastest goal (25.02 seconds) in Champions League history to break the deadlock for Bayern in their 2-0 win over Juventus. 

That was quick: Alaba (jumping) pictured here is celebrating his goal against Juventus

FACT: In May, he played the full 90 minutes at left-back in the all-German Champions League final between Bayern and Dortmund, with his side winning 2-1.

No nonsense: Alaba is one of few full-backs who can both attack and defend.

Alaba has done well to sustain the kind of performances fellow full-back Lahm has done.

He became Bayern's youngest EVER player in a competitive match, at 17 years, 7 months and 8 days old - making his CL debut just 5 days later. 

He has made 164 appearances for Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim (on-loan) in total since his debut, scoring 14 goals and winning 8 title honours so far in his career (all with Bayern) 

He has recently won the Austrian Sports Personality of the Year for 2013, and has won the Austrian Footballer Of The Year twice in a row (2011 and 2012, 2013 still pending)

Potential: Alaba poses with team-mate Ribery as he wins the Austrian SPOTY 2013.

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